TOPIC:

Last Sunday Subiaco Oval was opened to the public for a few hours so that people could walk on the ground, kick a footy and take some photos before the demolition crew come in this week.

Despite being primarily an AFL ground for the last 30 years, Subiaco Oval also has a rich WAFL history and its demise is another link severed to the past traditions of WA Football.

I am sure that people have some fond (and not so fond) memories of Subiaco Oval
Mine include
1982-84 and 2010 Swans flags (missed 1990 was overseas). The 2010 GF was particularly sweet because it was so unexpected
The Tuesday afternoon State of Origin games in the mid 80s
1978 GF Perth V East Perth – torrential downpour in the last quarter
1979 GF EF v SF – 52000 people.

There were the times I came away from there bitterly disappointed too. None more so than the 1981 finals series where Swans went out in straight sets after dominating much of the season and breaking many records in the qualifying round but at the pointy end they were found wanting by two outstanding teams.

There are many more memories for me but I would be interested in reading other peoples recollections of the ground

Timely thread Mikeh, many memories for me being a Subi Tragic, earliest memories were sitting behind the western end goals on the grass banks in front of the little Brightspot burger van with Mum and dad and my 2 bro's. Mum particularly enjoyed watching her favourites Ocker kicking bags of goals and the great Brian Sarre lobbing droppies into the centre of Subi oval. never saw many finals but still went to most GF's with my Bro's, the 3 perth flags in the late 60's and the three SD flags in the early '8o's were standouts. That SD team was the best WAFL team I have seen, with the SF team of the same era a very close 2nd. First final i went to was the 1964 1st semi v CL, Spud Slater was our coach and it was torrential rain, also the start of Claremonts amazing run to the flag. Late 60's watching Bunts take us to 3 successive and unsuccessful 1st semi's, twice v Perth and one heart breaker against EP where we came from around 8 goals down to hit the lead in the last only to have the East Perth bench player come on and soccer a last minute Goal.
Then of course the amazing '73 GF, never seen so many grown men and women cry after a footy match. after that it was dark days until Bunts returned with a new and strange game plan that is pretty close to current footy, ie chip it around, backwards sideways whatever to maintain control of the pill, 4 GF's and 2 flags followed. regular finals after that and the heartbreaking '95 GF. Everything changed at Subi with the arrival of peter german and captain Richard Malone, both super professionals and both utterly ruthless in their approach to the game and what was required to achieve success. Apart from that the state of origin mid week games were awesome and unfortunately the last 2 GF's played at Subi were the farcical contrived peelmantle flags that really sourers the history of Subi oval. i would have been happy if any of the 8 WAFL clubs could have beaten that lot.

some great memories there SS. Of course Subiaco supporters would have a lot more to recall in terms of qualifying games whereas for the rest of us it was interstate games and finals. Were you at the ground in 1968 to see Austin Robertson kick 15 goals in the last round to break the record?

Yep...I was there Mike when Cammie Blakemore and co were kicking it backwards to Ocker and Trevor Sprigg was trying to belt him at every occasion. From memory, Ocker could have had it wrapped up by half time but unusually for him, he missed a few sitters. Also, the 1973 GF is printed indelibly in my brain. I was there with my parents and a mate who was also a Subi supporter which was a rarity considering we both went to South Freo High School. If you look at the vision of what happened after the final siren you'll see the crowd surge onto the Oval and right near the very end of the telecast a young bloke with a mop of blond hair and a huge Subi flag run across the ground...well that was me. I gave it to Ocker for the team's lap of honour and found it later that night next to the clubrooms. I took it home and put it up on our roof until my old man made me take it down a week later....oh the memories.

yes I was Mike and my bad for missing that one. Playing EF and subi were safe in 4th spot. Bunts claimed they would not especially look for Ocker but he was the worst offender, kicking backwards sideways whatever to make sure he got the goals. Ended up with 15 goals 7pts I think to beat Bernie's record by 1. Robbo's opponent that day may have been Trevor Sprigg, very good FB but poor bloke was on a hiding to nothing that day.

Arriving at the main gates on a Friday arvo sleeping the night just so we could get a plum front row seat on the scoreboard wing for the 76,77 and sadly the 78 grand finals.
Also the Tuesday arvo state of origin games against the Big V.

At least I wont miss the patrons walking passed & spilling beer on us. I wont miss the obscene language hurled at both sides
nor those idiots who displayed large flags & blocked the view.
Love the new ground with better seating & amenities.

Perhaps this could be combined with an almost identical thread from nearly 2 years ago:

ozfooty.net/joomla16/index.php?option=co...id=7386&limitstart=0

30plusyeardrought wrote: Arriving at the main gates on a Friday arvo sleeping the night just so we could get a plum front row seat on the scoreboard wing for the 76,77 and sadly the 78 grand finals.
Also the Tuesday arvo state of origin games against the Big V.

I missed the 76 GF probably up on the farm ploughing paddocks but was probably not far from you in 77 30plus on the fence. I took a lot of shots on the old Hanimex camera. Had some great shots but sadly lost them somewhere along the way. Was up about 3 or 4 rows from the back of the top deck of the 3 tier stand in the 78 GF and still got wet that's how bad it was. heart broken when the final siren went.

Was there for the mighty State of Origin games on the Tuesdays but I recall before state of origin when the Vics would pick Cable, Moss, the Richardson bros etc... and we got pumped, we were sitting benind the goals at the Princess Margret end and you know how colourful the crowd was at that end on a big day. There were a bunch of Vics that made the trek over wearing their BIg V jumper, most of them bearded and tattooed all drinking merrily among the indigenous folk. Well things went south late in the 4th qtr and we had to jump the fence and onto the ground while play was still going on until the boys in blue broke it all up. A fair few Vic boys ended up in the paddy wagon and probably spent the night in the East Perth Hilton. Lol

The other memorable GF was 1981 between Claremont and SF. I had a ringside seat to the fights that broke out after Basil Campbell cleaned up Bob Beecroft at the first bounce. Watching Benny Vigona shaping up to Jimmy or Phil Krakouer was something to see.

My good memories are a Creedence concert in 1972. Premierships in 76 and 77.
Bad days in 70, 74 and of course 78.
Lower down the scale but still very enjoyable days were the first semi final against Claremont in 86, and then against EP in 97.